Weaving heddle

ABSTRACT

An improved heddle ( 2 ), on its end eyelet ( 7 ), has a spring means ( 14 ) which braces the end eyelet ( 7 ) resiliently in at least one direction on a heddle support rail  3 . The spring means ( 14 ) serves to avoid play between the heddle ( 2 ) and the heddle shaft ( 1 ). This provision makes it possible to increase the operating speed of power looms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/EP2003/013555, filed Dec. 2, 2003, andclaims priority of German Patent Application No. 102 60 024.4, filedDec. 19, 2002, which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a heddle of the kind that can be used inparticular as a weaving heddle in power looms.

From European Patent Disclosure EP 0874930 B1, a heddle shaft is known,between whose upper and lower crossbeams heddles are fastened. Theheddles are kept stationary, spaced apart and parallel to one another.On both ends, they have one end eyelet each, which wraps around aheddle-holding profile section and is thus held by positive engagement.Moreover, each heddle has an eyelet, through which a yarn passes, suchas a warp yarn of a power loom. In operation, the heddle shaft is movedback and forth with the heddles in the longitudinal direction of theheddles, and very high accelerations occur. Attempts have therefore beenmade to firmly clamp the heddles in such a way that the end eyelets haveonly little play, or none, at the associated profile section. To thatend, it has been proposed that an expandable element be disposed on theheddle support profile section, in the form of a hose that can besubjected to fluid and penetrates the end eyelets parallel to the heddlesupport profile section and clamps firmly in the expanded state.

With this provision, the end eyelets can be fixed without play on theheddle shaft. However, this requires major effort and expense. Inparticular, the heddle shaft must be set up for this provision, andprovisions must be made for securely and tightly enclosing the actuatingfluid.

The play-free fixation of the heddles on the heddle shaft opens up thepossibility, even at high operating speed and thus at majoraccelerations of the heddle shaft, of achieving a secure, controlledmode of operation. The effort and expense this involves, as in EP0874930 B1, however, is relatively high.

From German Patent Disclosure DE 195 48 176, a heddle for a heddle shaftis known, the shape of whose end eyelets is adapted to the heddlesupport rail; one end eyelet surrounds the heddle support rail withoutplay, and the opposite end eyelet of the heddle surrounds its associatedheddle support rail with a play that is adapted to the maximum saggingof the heddle support rail.

Sagging of the heddle support rails is dependent primarily on the powerlevels of the power looms and increases if these power levels increase.It is thus extremely difficult for the sagging, which definitivelydetermines the play of an end eyelet of the heddle of DE 195 48 176, inadvance. Very often, this play can be ascertained, if at all, only inoperation of the power loom.

From German Patent Disclosure DE 10035886 and British Patent 1959, aheddle for a heddle shaft is known that has an elastic connecting meansbetween the heddle and its end eyelet. As a result, the heddle becomesmore elastic, and subsequently suspending the heddle from the heddlesupport rail and replacing heddles in the heddle support rail areeasier. However, forces of acceleration and braking must be transmittedfrom the end eyelet to the heddle via the elastic connecting means.

A heddle is also known from German Patent Disclosure DE 29 35 504, witha heddle shaft and with end eyelets that each fit on one end over arespective heddle support rail. The spacing of the inner bearing facesof the end eyelets from one another is greater than the spacing of thetwo outer edges of the two heddle support rails, so that the heddles areseated with play on the heddle support rails. To compensate for thisplay, a compression spring is disposed on one end eyelet; it is bracedby one end on the end eyelet and by its other end on the heddle supportrail. As a result, the compression spring tenses the opposite end eyeletagainst the heddle support rail.

The known heddles with separate spring elements require considerableproduction and manufacturing effort and expense. Moreover, theirassembly requires not inconsiderable effort.

With this as the point of departure, it is the object of the inventionto disclose a simple provision with which the upper limit for theoperating speed of a power loom, which limit originates in the heddleshaft, can be increased still further.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is attained with a heddle ,particularly for power looms,having an elongated heddle body, which on one end has an end eyelet forsecuring the heddle to a heddle support rail, and having a spring meansprovided on the end eyelet. The particular advantage of attaining theobject of the invention in this way is that it makes do withoutmodification of the power loom, and in particular without modificationof the heddle shaft. The spring means provided on the end eyelet orintegrally connected to it enables the play-free supporting of theheddle with respect to the direction of motion of the heddle shaft,which matches the longitudinal direction of the heddle. Clattering,impacts and attendant digging in of the heddle head into the heddlesupport rail are reduced or suppressed as a result. Moreover, the springmeans compensates for tolerances, so that the end eyelet can be kepttensed between two diametrically opposite faces, and lesser dimensionaldeviations of the heddle head or variations in spacing between the twopressure faces are compensated for by the spring means.

Moreover, the spring means provided on the end eyelet creates theprecondition for being able to clamp the end eyelet and thus the heddleon the heddle support rail. For instance, a clamping means in the formof a movably supported pressure rail may be provided on the heddlesupport rail and firmly clamps the end eyelets in place. The springmeans provided on the end eyelets make compensating for tolerancespossible, so that all the end eyelets are relatively uniformly firmlytensed. This creates the prerequisites for a mechanical clamping device,in which a single clamping member or an individual clamping rail firmlyclamps all the end eyelets.

The spring means furthermore provides a certain amount of buffering inthe event of abrupt accelerations or braking events. It is embodiedresiliently in the longitudinal direction of each heddle. Variousembodiments are possible. In preferred embodiments, the spring means isembodied by a plane portion of the heddle head, and this portion isprovided with one or more recesses to increase the axial resilience. Theadvantage of this embodiment is that the pitch of the heddles can bevery close; that is, the spring means occupies no lateral installationspace. Alternatively, however, it may be formed by a spring tongue,which is for instance laterally curved. The advantage of that embodimentmay be increased resilience of the spring means.

The invention can be realized either in only one end eyelet of a heddle,or on both end eyelets provided on the ends of the heddle. In a versionintended especially for high-speed looms, the heddle is provided on onlyone end with an end eyelet of the invention, while the other end iswithout an end eyelet. In that case, the free end of the heddle can besupported axially displaceably in a guide. In this way, relative motionsbetween crossbeams of a heddle shaft that are located diametricallyopposite one another cannot be transmitted to the heddle. Such relativemotions can occur as a consequence of dynamic loads, when highaccelerations are operative.

In a preferred version, the heddles are embodied as resistant tokinking. They can therefore transmit not only tensile forces but alsocompressive forces. Kink-resistance is attained for instance by means ofa bending edge, or a bulge of the heddle, extending in the longitudinaldirection of the heddle.

In a further preferred version, the heddles in the two portions that areeach located between the end eyelet and the eyelet are embodied withdifferent cross sections. Preferably, two different cross sections withdifferent cross-sectional areas are employed; as a rule, a portion fromthe end eyelet to the eyelet has a constant cross section. The crosssections may differ in cross-sectional shape, for example. In additionor as an alternative, they may differ in terms of the area content ofthe cross-sectional area. For instance, the heddle may comprise a flatmaterial of constant thickness, while the heddle portions have differentwidths, viewed from the flat side.

This offers the capability of providing the heddle with a thick crosssection in the region where it is heavily stressed and with a thin crosssection in the region of lesser stress. As a result, the weight of theheddle is reduced and hence the spring constant of the spring means ofthe end eyelet becomes less, which can mean a simpler shape of thespring means.

The end eyelets provided with the spring means permit firm clamping, asnoted, by means of a clamping device provided on the heddle shaft. Theclamping device preferably has a rigid clamping piece, which cooperateswith the spring means, such as the end eyelets, and can be actuatedmechanically, for instance via a wedge clamping device or via a meansacted upon by fluid. The rigid embodiment of the clamping piece has theadvantage that relatively strong forces at individual points can bewithstood; that is, the end eyelets can be firmly clamped with strongforces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details of advantageous embodiments of the invention will becomeapparent from the drawings, the description, or the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. Shown are:

FIG. 1, a schematically illustrated heddle shaft, with support rods,associated heddle support rails, and heddles;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of heddle support rails witha heddle;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary cross-sectional view on a different scale of theheddle support rail and heddle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of aheddle support rail and a heddle;

FIG. 5, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of aheddle support rail and a heddle;

FIGS. 6 and 7, sections taken along a line A-A in FIG. 4 of heddles invarious embodiments;

FIG. 8, a fragmentary front view of a further embodiment of a heddlesupport rail and a heddle;

FIG. 9, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of aheddle support rail with a heddle;

FIG. 10, a fragmentary perspective view of a heddle support rail with amechanical adjusting device;

FIG. 11, a fragmentary exploded view of the heddle support rail of FIG.10;

FIG. 12, a schematic view of a complete heddle of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 13, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment ofa heddle and a heddle support rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 schematically shows a heddle shaft 1 with two support or shaftrods 51 and 51′, two associated heddle support rails 3 and 4, andheddles 2 according to the invention.

In FIG. 2, a detail is shown of the heddle shaft 1, which has aplurality of heddles 2 kept spaced apart and parallel to one another.The heddle shaft 1 has one upper heddle support rail 3 and one lowerheddle support rail 4, which hold the upper and lower ends,respectively, of the heddle 2.

The heddle 2 comprises a flat material, which extends between the heddlesupport rails 3, 4 in the form of a flat strip (heddle body). An eyelet5 is provided approximately in the middle. On at least one end, forinstance the upper end 6, the heddle 2 has an end eyelet 7, which servesto secure the heddle 2 to the heddle support rail 3, and away from whichthe heddle body 10 extends. The end eyelet 7 is shown in greater detailin FIG. 3. It has a recess 8 which is open in the longitudinal directionY of the heddle 2 and with which the heddle 2 is held on a jib 9 that isjoined, preferably integrally, to the upper heddle support rail 3. Thejib 9 has an upward-protruding rib in the longitudinal direction Y ofthe heddle 2; this rib is joined via a crosspiece 11 to an extension 12,oriented parallel to the jib 9, of the heddle support rail 3. The jib 9is rounded off on its top. The jawlike recess 8 of the end eyelet 7 isalso rounded off in that region.

A spring means 14 is embodied on the end eyelet 7, on the side facingaway from the recess 8, and with this spring means the end eyelet 7 isbraced on a pressure face 15 located opposite the jib 9. The pressureface 15 is embodied for instance on the heddle support rail 3.

The spring means 14 is formed for instance by a portion of the endeyelet 7, or of the heddle head, that is provided with an opening 16.Adjoining the recess 8, this portion extends away from the eyelet 5 andpreferably comprises the same material as the rest of the end eyelet 7.The opening 16, which may for instance be embodied in the form of around hole, is surrounded by a closed edge 17, which is curved in an arcon its outer side and at one point 18 touches the pressure face 15. Theedge 17 has a certain resilience. If the spacing of the point 18 of theheddle 2 from the point 19 of the heddle 2, where the edge of the recess8 touches the upper edge of the jib 9, is slightly greater than thespacing between the pressure face 15 and the point where the jib 9 andthe heddle 2 touch, then the spring means 14, which is formed by theportion of the end eyelet 7 provided with the opening 16, can compensatefor this oversize. The end eyelet 7 is then seated under tension on thejib 9 or on the heddle support rail 3. This precludes banging back andforth of the end eyelet 7 in the longitudinal direction Y. The endeyelet 7 is thus seated securely on the jib 9, specifically even if therecess 8, in the interstice defined between the jib 9 and the extension12, is bounded by only a short leg 20. This in turn makes it possible todesign very short, compact end eyelets 7 and correspondingly smallheddle support rails 3, which can lead to a reduction in the movingmasses.

The lower heddle support rail 4 (FIG. 2) may in principle be embodiedlike the upper heddle support rail 3. However, it is advantageous toguide the heddle 2, on its end diametrically opposite the end eyelet 7,not without play but rather with limited play, or as shown in FIG. 2,even with unlimited play. To that end, the lower heddle support rail 4is provided with a receiving rail 21, which for each heddle 2 has aguide opening 22 extending in the longitudinal direction Y. In crosssection, the guide opening approximately matches the cross section ofthe heddle 2, but has a certain oversize so that the heddle 2 isretained movably in the guide opening 22.

In operation, the heddle shaft 1 executes a reciprocating motion in thelongitudinal direction Y of the heddle 2. Thus each yarn passing throughthe eyelet 5 is moved correspondingly upward or downward out of a warpyarn plane. The movement takes place virtually abruptly, with highforces of acceleration and braking. The requisite forces are introducedinto the heddle 2 at the heddle support rail 3 on which the heddle 2 isheld without play. In the upward motion, the end eyelet 7 is braced onthe jib 9. Hardly any spring action can be found here. With respect tothe downward motion, the end eyelet 7 is braced via the point 18 on thepressure face 15. The spring means 14 yields only insignificantly, if atall. It is designed as so stiff that it can transmit the required forceof acceleration to the end eyelet 7, without the point 19 of the heddlelifting away from the jib 9. The stiffness of the spring means 14 mayfor instance be adjusted by means of the size of the opening 16. In thatcase, the width of the remaining edge 17 determines the resilience.

In FIG. 4, a modified embodiment of a heddle 2 is shown. Its end eyelet7 has a differently embodied spring means 14, but the heddle isotherwise embodied in agreement with the description above. The springmeans 14 is again embodied as a compression spring 23, in that a portionof the end eyelet 7 extending away from the eyelet 5 and adjoining therecess is provided with lateral cutouts. The end eyelet 7, including thespring means 14 and the rest of the heddle 2, comprises a relativelythin metal sheet, from which it is cut out. The end eyelet 7 iscompletely plane; its two lateral, diametrically opposed cutouts 24, 25,offset from one another in the longitudinal direction Y, overlap oneanother. The remaining S-shaped portion is braced in turn with its upperend on the pressure face 15.

A further-modified embodiment of the heddle 2 and the heddle supportrail is shown in FIG. 5. Once again, this involves an end eyelet 7 whosespring means 14 is located in the same plane as the end eyelet 7 itself.However, the spring means 14 is formed by a V-shaped notch 26,diametrically opposite the recess 8 in the direction away from theeyelet 5, which separates two legs 27, 28 from one another. The legs 27,28 are braced on a pressure jib 29 of triangular cross section, whichmay be part of the jib 9 or of the heddle support rail 3. The dimensionsare once again selected such that the pressure jib 29 reaches inprestressed fashion between the legs 27, 28, so that the end eyelet isheld without play on the jib 9. The legs 27, 28 spread slightly apartand toward one another resiliently, and this resilience is converted, bythe oblique faces of the pressure jib 29, into an axial compressiveforce with which the end eyelet 7 is pressed with its point 19 againstthe jib 9.

A further-modified embodiment of the spring means 14 can be seen fromFIG. 8. A portion 37 of the end eyelet 7 that has neither openings nornotches, or a portion embodied as in FIGS. 3 through 5, is bentlaterally outward out of the plane of the rest of the end eyelet 7 andthus forms a curved spring tongue, with which the end eyelet 7 is bracedon the pressure face 15.

All the heddles 2 described above may, as needed and preferably, bereinforced with regard to their kink resistance upon pressure loading inthe longitudinal direction Y. To that end, they may have a cross sectionas shown in FIG. 7. Adjoining its head, the heddle 2 is curved, as thesection A-A in FIG. 5 shows. In other words, the heddle 2 is curved inchannel-like fashion, thereby generating increased resistance tokinking. The bulge, optionally with the exception of the eyelet 5,preferably extends over the entire length of the heddle 2, up to the endeyelet 7 or into it. Alternatively, instead of the bulge of FIG. 7, abending edge 32 as in FIG. 6 may be provided, which extends in thelongitudinal direction Y. The bending edge 32 is preferably disposedapproximately in the middle, so that it passes through the eyelet 5. Inan alternative embodiment, it is also possible to provide two bendingedges 32, making for an overall approximately Z-shaped cross section ofthe heddle 2. The advantage of that embodiment is that the bending edges32 can extend on past the eyelet 5, which lends the heddle 2 particularrigidity, especially in the region of the eyelet 5.

A further embodiment of a heddle 2 according to the invention is shownin FIG. 12. This heddle 2 is modified in terms of its weight, withoutmodification of the end eyelets 7 or of the spring means 14. To thatend, the distance C, from the point 19 where the heddle touches theheddle support rail in the upper region to the point 19′ where theheddle 2 touches the heddle support rail in the lower region, issubdivided into two portions A and B. The first portion A, which extendsfrom the region of the eyelet to the region of the beginning of the endeyelet, has a narrow cross section S1. In the portion B, which islocated on the opposite side of the eyelet and also extends from theregion of the eyelet to the region of the beginning of the end eyelet,the heddle 2 has a wider cross section S2. Preferably, the narrowportion with the cross section S1 is half as wide as the portion havingthe cross section S2. In addition or alternatively, the cross sectionsmay have different shapes. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 12, theshape of the cross section changes in the vicinity of the eyelet 5 andin the transitional region between the end eyelet and the rest of theheddle 2. It is also possible for the cross sections located inside theportion C of the heddle 2 to be changed at other points. The differentcross sections described above can be realized in heddles 2 with springmeans of the most various shapes.

The cross sections of the individual portions A, B may be square,rectangular, oval, circular, elliptical, kidney-shaped, T-shaped,U-shaped, or the like.

In the above-described embodiments of the heddle shaft 1, it wasinitially assumed that the pressure face 15 has a fixed, unadjustableposition relative to the jib 9 of the heddle support rail 3. However,the heddles 2 presented, provided with a spring means 14, areparticularly suitable for a heddle support rail 3 of the kind seen inFIG. 9. In it, a rail 33, on which the pressure face 15 is embodied, andthe jib 9 of the heddle support rail 3 are adjustable relative to oneanother in such a way that their spacing can be increased or decreasedintentionally. This is represented in FIG. 9 by an arrow 34. Theadjustability is advantageous particularly for the sake of equipping theheddle support rail 3 with heddles 2. In a first position, in which therail 33 is removed from the jib 9, all the heddles 2 can be suspendedfrom the heddle support rail 3 and also displaced along the heddlesupport rail 3. Once the heddles 2 have arrived at their respectivedesired position, they can be firmly clamped there, in that the rail 33is moved in the direction of the jib 9 and in the process is clampedagainst the spring means 14 of the heddles 2. In the process, all theend eyelets 7 are firmly clamped on the jib 9. Any dimensionaldeviations between the heddle heads and end eyelets 7 are compensatedfor by the individual spring means 14 of the end eyelets 7.

FIG. 10 shows one such heddle support rail 3 and the associated rail 33in perspective. The rail 33 belongs to a clamping device 35 that can beseen from FIG. 11. The rail 33, for reinforcement, is formed forinstance by a U-shaped profile section, whose legs 36, 37 protrudeupward from the spine serving as a pressure face 15. Associated with therail 33 is a conversely oriented, further rail 38 embodied as a U-shapedprofile section, whose legs 41, 42 fit between the legs 36, 37. In thelegs 41, 42, oblong slots 43 are embodied, which are inclined relativeto the longitudinal direction of the rail 38. Associated with the oblongslots 43 are pins 44, which are retained in the legs 36, 37 andpenetrate the oblong slots 43. The pins 44 together with the oblongslots 43 form a wedge device, which upon a longitudinal adjustment ofthe rails 33, 38 counter to one another causes the rails 33, 38 to moveaway from one another or toward one another.

An undulatingly curved leaf spring 45, disposed between the rails 33,38, may be provided for tensing the rails 33, 38 away from one another.A threaded bolt 46 may furthermore serve to adjust the rails 33, 38longitudinally counter to one another. Thus rotating the threaded bolt46 causes an adjustment of the rail 33 and hence simultaneously amovement of the pressure face 15 away from or toward the jib 9 of theheddle support rail 3, 4.

In FIG. 13, still another embodiment of a heddle 2 is shown, with aC-shaped end eyelet 7. The elongated heddle body 10 extends in a firstdirection away from this end eyelet. The heddle body 10 may for instancebe aligned with the heddle support rail 3, or offset from it. The springmeans 14 formed by the compression spring 23 directly adjoins the endeyelet 7. The end eyelet 7 is preferably located on the side away fromthe heddle body. The spring means 14 shown is merely one exemplaryembodiment. Instead of the compression spring 23, any other spring means14 disposed in the above description may be employed, along withmodifications thereof. The spring means 14 may serve to eliminate theplay of the end eyelet 7 on the heddle support rail 3 and to damp themotion of the heddles. The spring means 14 in a first embodiment may beprestressed, so that the end eyelet 7 is pressed constantly against theheddle support rail 3, at least when the heddle shaft 1 is at rest.However, it is also possible to leave a certain play between the springmeans 14 and the pressure face 15, which play is preferably less thanthe play, measured longitudinally of the heddle, of the end eyelet 7 onthe heddle support rail 3.

Instead of the heddle support rail 3, which for instance is of steel, itis possible to provide a jib, for instance as in FIG. 4, which isembodied integrally with the shaft rod, and is for instance of aluminumor an aluminum alloy. The same is correspondingly true for all theexemplary embodiments above.

An improved heddle 2, on its end eyelet 7, has a spring means 14 whichbraces the end eyelet 7 resiliently in at least one direction on aheddle support rail 3. The spring means 14 serves to avoid play betweenthe heddle 2 and the heddle shaft 1. This provision permits increasingthe operating speed of power looms.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Heddle shaft-   2 Heddle-   3, 4 Heddle support rail-   5 Eyelet-   6 End-   7 End eyelet-   8 Recess-   9 Jib-   10 Heddle body-   11 Crosspiece-   12 Extension-   14 Spring means-   15 Pressure face-   16 Opening-   17 Edge-   18, 19, 19′ Point-   20 Leg-   21 Receiving rail-   22 Guide opening-   23 Compression spring-   24, 25 Cutouts-   26 Notch-   27, 28 Legs-   29 Pressure jib-   31 Portion-   32 Bending edge-   33 Rail-   34 Arrow-   35 Clamping device-   36, 37 Legs-   38 Rail-   41, 42 Legs-   43 Oblong slots-   44 Pin-   45 Leaf spring-   46 Threaded bolt-   51, 51′ Shaft rod-   Y Longitudinal direction

1. A heddle, in particular for power looms, comprising: an elongatedheddle body, which on one end has an end eyelet for securing the heddleto a heddle support rail, and a spring means provided on the end eyeleton a side thereof facing away from the heddle body for engaging abearing surface spaced from and adjacent a heddle supporting rib of aheddle support rail; and wherein the spring means is integrally joinedto the end eyelet on the side thereof facing away from the end eyelet.2. The heddle according to claim 1, wherein the spring means is embodiedas a tensioning means, for supporting the heddle in a prestressedfashion on a heddle support rail.
 3. The heddle according to claim 1,wherein the spring means is formed by at least one resilient portionextending away from the end eyelet.
 4. The heddle according to claim 1,wherein the spring means is embodied resiliently in the longitudinaldirection (Y) of the heddle.
 5. The heddle according to claim 1, whereinthe spring means is embodied as a compression spring.
 6. The heddleaccording to claim 1, wherein the spring means is embodied as a spiralspring.
 7. The heddle according to claim 1, wherein the heddle is formedof a plane flat material, and the end eyelet is embodied as plane.
 8. Aheddle, in particular for power looms, comprising: an elongated heddlebody, which on one end has an end eyelet for securing the heddle to aheddle support rail, and a spring means provided on the end eyelet on aside thereof facing away from the heddle body for engaging a bearingsurface spaced from and adjacent a heddle supporting rib of a heddlesupport rail, and wherein the heddle is formed of a plane flat material,and the spring means is embodied as plane.
 9. A heddle, in particularfor power looms, comprising: an elongated heddle body, which on one endhas an end eyelet for securing the heddle to a heddle support rail, anda spring means provided on the end eyelet on a side thereof facing awayfrom the heddle body for engaging a bearing surface spaced from andadjacent a heddle supporting rib of a heddle support rail, and whereinthe heddle is formed of a plane flat material, and the spring means isembodied by a curved spring tongue.
 10. The heddle according to claim 1,wherein the heddle is embodied of a flat material and adjoining the endeyelet has an elongated portion, which is provided with a bending edgeor a reinforcing bulge.
 11. The heddle according to claim ,1 wherein theheddle, adjoining the end eyelet, has an elongated portion which has acenter eyelet and which is divided into a plurality of portionsextending from the center eyelet, and these portions have differentcross-sectional areas.
 12. The heddle according to claim 11, wherein thecross-sectional areas of the portions have a ratio in terms of the areathey contain of 1 to
 2. 13. The heddle according to claim 11, whereinthe cross-sectional areas of the portions have profile sections thatdeviate from one another.
 14. The A heddle support rail, supporting aheddle according to claim 1, wherein the heddle support rail has a ribfor supporting the heddle at a face of the end eyelet opposite thespring means, and a bearing face that is spaced from the rib, extendstransverse to the longitudinal direction of the heddle body, and ispositioned to engage the spring means of the heddle supported on therib, and wherein the bearing face is disposed in stationary fashionrelative to the rib of the heddle support rail.
 15. A heddle supportrail, for receiving a heddle according to claim 1, wherein the heddlesupport rail has a rib for supporting a heddle at a face of the endeyelet opposite the spring means, and a bearing face that is spaced fromthe rib, extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the heddlebody, and is positioned to engage the spring means when a heddle issupported on the rib, and wherein the bearing face is supportedadjustably relative to rib of the heddle support rail.
 16. A heddleshaft with a heddle support rail having a heddle according to claim 1.17. A heddle, in particular for power looms, comprising: an elongatedheddle body, which on one end has an end eyelet for securing the heddleto a heddle support rail; and, a spring that is provided on the endeyelet on a side thereof facing away from the heddle body, that extendsaway from the eyelet, and is an integral one-piece part of the heddlebody.